nature

name

1. The sum of natural forces reified and considered as a sentient being, will, or principle.

   “To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man.”

   “The human genius is creative when it copies Nature, and imitative when it aims to invent.”

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₁-sḱé-ti Proto-Italic *gnāskōrder. Latin nāscor Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Latin nātūralbor. Old French naturebor. Middle English nature English nature From Middle English nature, natur, from Old French nature, from Latin nātūra (“birth, origin, natural constitution or quality”), future participle from perfect passive participle (g)natus (“born”), from deponent verb (g)nasci (“to be born, originate”) + future participle suffix -urus. Displaced native Middle English erd (“character, nature, disposition”) from Old English eard (compare German Art (“nature, character, kind, type”)); and Middle English kynde (“character, disposition, nature”) from Old English ġecynd. More at kind.

1. The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology.

   “I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions.”

   “In the works of nature we find, in many instances, beauty and sublimity involved among circumstances, which are either indifferent, or which obstruct the general effect: and it is only by a train of experiments, that we can separate those circumstances from the rest... Accordingly, the inexperienced artist, when he copies nature, will copy her servilely... and the beauties of his performances will be encumbered with a number of superfluous or disagreeable concomitants. Experience and observation alone can enable him to make this determination: to exhibit the principles of beauty pure and unadulterated, and to form a creation of his own, more faultless, than ever fell under the observation of his senses.”

2. The particular way someone or something is, especially

   “Vliss.: ... One touch of nature makes the whole world kin, That all with one consent praise new-borne gaudes, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And goe to dust, that is a little guilt, More laud then guilt ore-dusted.”

   “Lady. ...Glamys thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promis'd: yet doe I feare thy Nature, It is too full o'th' Milke of humane kindnesse, To catch the neerest way.”

3. The particular way someone or something is, especially

   “For the French, it was impossible for them to serve her in that nature.”

   “A dispute of this nature caused mischief.”

4. The particular way someone or something is, especially

   “...One Hundred of each Nature of Case-Shot...”

   “B.L. cartridges have lubricators choked inside the cartridges of 40-pr. and lower natures.”

5. The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially (now dialect) as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment.

   “Any such corrasiue, sharpe or eager medicine... as the said H. shal think his nature is vnable to suffer...”

   “For nature creſſant does not grovve alone / In thevvs and bulkes, but as this temple vvaxes, / The invvard ſervice of the minde and ſoule / Grovves vvide vvithal, […]”

6. A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially

   “He withdrew from the Company to ease Nature.”

   “The women tell you to stop because they's feeling the call of nature. If you don't stop they pee in your lorry.”

7. A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially

   “She marvelled "What he saw in such a baby "As that prim, silent, cold Aurora Raby?" ...Why Adeline had this slight prejudice ...For me appears a question far too nice, Since Adeline was liberal by Nature; But Nature’s Nature, and has more caprices Than I have time, or will to take to pieces...”

   “He had placed a spell on her by means of a cunjer bag... Its effect was to rob her of connubial allure—in her words, ‘it stole her nature’.”

8. A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially

   “Lady. ... Come you Spirits, That tend on mortall thoughts, vnsex me here, ...make thick my blood, Stop vp th'accesse, and passage to Remorse, That no compunctious visitings of Nature Shake my fell purpose...”

   “Have we not seen (the blood of Laius shed) The murd'ring son ascend his parent's bed, Thro' violated Nature force his way, And stain the sacred womb where once he lay?”

9. A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.

   “If a man want to break his wife from some man, he steals this dishcloth... an' he ketches her nachure in this dishcloth...”

10. A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.

    “... offer her the Horse, and... wash her Nature with cold Water ...”

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₁-sḱé-ti Proto-Italic *gnāskōrder. Latin nāscor Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Latin nātūralbor. Old French naturebor. Middle English nature English nature From Middle English nature, natur, from Old French nature, from Latin nātūra (“birth, origin, natural constitution or quality”), future participle from perfect passive participle (g)natus (“born”), from deponent verb (g)nasci (“to be born, originate”) + future participle suffix -urus. Displaced native Middle English erd (“character, nature, disposition”) from Old English eard (compare German Art (“nature, character, kind, type”)); and Middle English kynde (“character, disposition, nature”) from Old English ġecynd. More at kind.

1. To endow with natural qualities.